1. When did the campus open and how does it help meet student and community needs?

The Canyon Country Campus, part of College of the Canyons, opened on August 27, 2007. The campus was built to increase access to higher education in the Santa Clarita Valley. Studies had shown that about thirty-two percent of the nearly 21,300 students attending College of the Canyons at the time resided in ZIP codes in and around Canyon Country. The Southern California Association of Governments estimates that nearly 75,000 people will be living in Canyon Country by 2010, an increase of 32 percent over 10 years. Nearby Saugus is expected to increase 28 percent over the same period. The combined population of Saugus and Canyon Country will exceed 125,000 in 2010. The number of students who will seek college classes in that vicinity will grow dramatically. At the same time, significant growth is predicted throughout the entire Santa Clarita Valley resulting in the College of the Canyons campus in Valencia reaching capacity as student population reaches the 20,000 to 25,000 level.

Since that first semester, enrollment at the Canyon Country Campus has grown. In Fall 2007, the campus served 3,401 students. When the campus is fully built, it will serve between 8,000 and 10,000 students per semester.

2. Where is the campus located, and what facilities and services are available on campus?

The campus is located at 17200 Sierra Highway in Canyon Country, about 1.7 miles north of the Soledad/Sierra Highway intersection. The campus is 70 acres in size and houses over 37 modular buildings of classrooms, labs, and related student services. There are 29 general education classrooms and fifteen labs including computer labs, early childhood development center lab, a Skills 4 Success lab, and lab space for the automotive, plumbing, and alternative energy programs. The campus also includes a Library electronically linked to the Valencia campus, and The Learning Center to support student success.

The student services offices include counseling offices, admissions and student business office, a student health center, offices for specialized programs such as CalWorks, Veterns Affairs and Adult Reentry, Job and Career Center, Student Development, and Service Learning, an assessment center with 12 computers, and a student services computer lab with internet access for online registration.

There are also offices for the administrative staff including the Vice President, Campus Switchboard and Reprographics, Campus Safety, Maintenance/Custodial, Grounds Keeping, a Faculty and Staff Technology Center. The campus has a Student Computer Lounge and a Study Room, as well as offices for faculty teaching at the campus.

3. What are the plans for permanent buildings on campus?

The college plans to build seven buildings on the campus, totaling nearly 240,000 square feet. This is nearly half the square footage of the Valencia campus. The buildings will house instructional programs in technology, arts and humanities, math, engineering, science, and social science. In addition, the permanent buildings will support a library, media technology, Student Services, administration, and tutorial center. This year, the college completed its Educational and Facilities Master Plan, which will guide program and facility development for the next five years.

The College has already installed all underground utilities and the infrastructure that will support the build-out of the permanent facilities, not simply the current interim facilities. This infrastructure includes communications, power, phone, cable, network and data, the water system, and central plant piping that supports its ecological, sustainable development goals.

4. What are the hours of operation at the campus?

The campus is open from 7:30am to 10:00pm, Monday through Thursday; 7:30am to 4:00pm on Friday and 7:30am to 4:00pm on Saturday. Student services offices are open from 10:00am – 7:00pm, Monday – Thursday. Please check the current schedule of campus hours for specific information.

5. Can high school students attend the campus?

6. Are there athletic teams/facilities?

Athletic facilities available at the campus include an activity room for cardio-fitness training, step aerobics, and yoga. We developed additional physical fitness classes including mountain biking. Intercollegiate sports teams will continue to be hosted at the Valencia campus.

7. How is the property landscaped?

The campus will be completed with landscaping that is "appropriate to the environment" with green belts, trees and plantings native to the area. Areas for students to congregate comfortably have been incorporated into both the initial design and will be included in the "permanent" building designs. There is sufficient exterior lighting and appropriate signage to provide a comfortable and convenient campus experience.

8. What kind of degree or certificates are available at the Canyon Country Campus?

The Canyon Country campus offers 17 Associate degrees as well as 12 Certificates of Achievement. The campus offers a full complement of courses including college skills, general education transferrable classes, allowing students to achieve a general education/liberal arts transfer degree through a combination of on-site and online classes.

9. Can students pay their enrollment and student fees at the Canyon Country Campus?

10. Will students miss anything academically by attending classes at the Canyon Country Campus?

No. The classes held in Canyon Country are of the same high quality that students have come to appreciate from the Valencia Campus. There are no differences in the content or rigor of classes from one campus to the other. College of the Canyons is noted for its outstanding delivery of education and that is not, in any way, based on where a class happens to be located.

11. Is there sufficient parking at the campus?

There are two paved parking lots, and additional designated parking along the campus road. The campus has an evening shuttle service which transports students from the classroom areas to the parking lots. The facility will ultimately feature 1,500 parking spaces, phased in as building and student population progresses.

Student parking for the Applied Technology Buildings is in Lot 2. Parking at the Applied Technology Building is limited to staff, visitor and disabled parking.

The City of Santa Clarita Transit Department offers bus service to the campus via Route 5. The on campus Bus Stop is located across from Room 400 on the upper Campus Road. For information on Route 5 schedules and stops, please go to the following City Transit link.

12. Where do I get my parking permit?

One parking permit allows students to park at both campuses. You can purchase your parking pass for the Canyon Country Campus at the cashier's office in the Student Services building in Quad 1, Building 1-C. You may also purchase a parking pass in the Student Business Office in the Administration Building on the Valencia Campus. In addition, Daily Parking Permit Machines are installed in Parking Lots 2 and 3.

13. Are there food services on the campus?

Food and beverages are available in two locations on the campus. Canyons Cafe is located adjacent to the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater, offers fresh salads, fresh sandwiches, pizza slices, hot dogs, specialty coffee drinks, fruit smoothies, cookies, and chips. Lattes, blended coffee, and other specialty drinks are also available. The food service building offers outdoor seating under a shade structure immediately behind the building, with a view of the surrounding hillsides. Wireless internet access is available throughout the campus, and the spacious patio area is no exception!

The Vending Room, located in Room 302, offers vending machines with both hot and cold food items such as sandwiches, yogurt, soups and pizza. The Vending Room has microwave ovens for student use, hot and cold beverages, indoor seating, and wireless access. The Vending Room also has vending machines stocked with school supplies such as Scantrons, Blue Books, notebooks and other supplies.

There are also snack and beverage machines located around the campus and in the Applied Tech building complex.

14. Why is the cell phone service so spotty on campus?

The campus location and terrain impede consistent cell service. Cell service is slowly improving in various locations around the campus. The best location for cell reception is along the back walkway behind the quad areas.

15. Where do I get information on financial aid?

The Financial Aid Office is located in Quad 1, Building 1A, check the campus hours for upated times. Students should keep in mind that they can apply for financial aid at any time during the year and, as always, they can access complete financial aid information online.

16. What are the bookstore hours?

17. Is there security at night?

Yes. Campus Safety personnel are physically on the Canyon Country campus. We also have an evening Campus Escort Service with a six-passenger golf cart and driver available Monday - Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 10:00pm. Campus escrots pick up at various location on the campus and will deliver passengers to their desired parking lots. To request service call (661)362-3801.